Wole Soyinka Reveals He Considered Running For President — And His Brutally Honest Reaction

Nobel Laureate and celebrated playwright, Professor Wole Soyinka, has disclosed that he nearly vied for Nigeria’s presidency following the June 12 pro-democracy movement, but ultimately abandoned the idea just 36 hours later, calling it “madness.”

He made the revelation on Saturday during a press briefing at Freedom Park, Lagos, at an event themed “June 12: Romancing the Embers.”

Reflecting on the brief political flirtation, Soyinka said, “I almost accepted the nomination to run for president. But after 36 hours, I said to myself, ‘Wole Soyinka, you dey craze,’ and returned to what I love—writing.”

Professor Wole Soyinka, renowned writer and Nobel Prize winner, has revealed that he seriously considered running for president in the wake of Nigeria’s June 12 democratic crisis but dropped the idea after less than two days, labeling it as a crazy thought.
He spoke during a media session at “June 12: Romancing the Embers” held at Freedom Park, Lagos.

“I nearly accepted a presidential nomination. After 36 hours of reflection, I told myself, ‘Wole Soyinka, you must be mad.’ That’s when I decided to go back to my true calling,” he said.

At an event marking the significance of June 12, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka revealed that he almost entered the Nigerian presidential race post-military era, but reconsidered after 36 hours, dismissing the idea as absurd.
Speaking at Freedom Park in Lagos, Soyinka admitted: “I nearly agreed to run for president, but then I thought, ‘Wole Soyinka, you dey craze,’ and chose to return to my passion—literature.”

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has confessed that he was close to contesting the presidency of Nigeria after the June 12 struggle but pulled out after 36 hours, describing the notion as irrational.
During the “June 12: Romancing the Embers” event at Freedom Park, Lagos, Soyinka shared: “I was tempted to accept a nomination, but I quickly realised it wasn’t for me. I’m not a politician—I belong to writing.”

Speaking at a June 12 commemorative event in Lagos, Professor Wole Soyinka revealed he once considered running for president shortly after the June 12 crisis but backed out after 36 hours, calling it a “crazy” idea.
“I was nearly swayed to contest for Nigeria’s highest office. But I soon realised that politics wasn’t my path. I told myself, ‘Wole Soyinka, you dey craze,’ and returned to my craft,” he said.